Today we’d like to introduce you to Ty Thomas.
Hi Ty, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started coaching my oldest, Deonta Thomas, at 4 years old. I quickly fell in love with how young people absorb and process information; I was inspired by my ability to develop and build character in youth athletes by sharing my knowledge and experience in life and with football. During my second year, I ran into some obstacles coaching at my home park, McRae Park, in south Minneapolis. I was dedicated to giving back to kids from the neighborhoods where I grew up, but unfortunately, I was kicked out because “I was too good of a coach.” I increased the flag football enrollment by 100% in one year. Installing structure and discipline, a once below-average team quickly started to dominate the SWAFA league. So that created resentment, and I was no longer allowed to coach. I drove from Woodbury every day to be at that park and working at Target HQ. However, a new opportunity presented itself. A new program in Woodbury (East Ridge) was getting started, and I had the opportunity to be on the board and build a flag football program in the area.
I did just that. I was helping to establish a powerhouse program in 6A football in MN. While on the board, the heightened awareness around concussions and brain injuries was at an all-time high. Parents were no longer allowed their kids to play tackle football. And tackle participation numbers were dropping across the US. So I decided to try an off-season (Spring) football league to keep kids engaged with the sport of football in a safe environment that would be acceptable to moms afraid of concussions. I thought I would get about 40-50 kids, but to my surprise, we got 150 kids immediately. So the following year, we planned for 200 kids and got closer to 400 kids the 2nd year. That’s when it hit me that I was on to something special. So I started planning to grow and went from one location to three, and then to 8 locations, then to 16 locations, and now we have grown to multiple states and all 4 seasons. I ran leagues and hosted national tournaments, training, and travel programs. I want to do more, like start an all-girls league and summer camp tours.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
At the time, the East Ridge board members didn’t think it was a good idea and voted against me, which prompted me to run My7on7 through community ed.
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about My7on7 Passing Leagues?
Our programs are dedicated to empowering youth to be leaders in their community, make good choices, and develop habits of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. We focus on the fundamentals while ensuring participants return to their programs with increased ability, confidence, and love for football.
Networking and finding a mentor can positively impact one’s life and career. Any advice?
I need a mentor, but you can generally find me through networking.
Contact Info:
- Website: My7on7.com
- Instagram: @my7on7
- Facebook: My7on7
- Twitter: @my7on7
- Youtube: My7on7
